Ophthalmic implant for treatment of glaucoma
First Claim
1. A method for increasing the aqueous outflow of fluid through Schlemm'"'"'s canal in the eye comprising the steps ofa) positioning in Schlemm'"'"'s canal a delivery tool comprising an implant,said implant comprising an elongated element with distal and proximal ends positionable within said canal so as to provide a radially inward force to the inner wall of said canal to thereby increase fluid permeability of the inner wall of said canal;
- and a flexible delivery device attached to said implant;
b) releasing said implant from said flexible delivery device; and
c) connecting said distal and proximal ends of said implant to each other to apply sufficient tensioning force along the longitudinal axis of said implant to impart a radially inward force on the inner wall of said canal to increase fluid permeability of the inner wall of said canal.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided for increasing the outflow of fluid through Schlemm'"'"'s canal that is useful for treatment of glaucoma. The implant is placed in Schlemm'"'"'s canal by use of a flexible delivery instrument attached to the implant. The instrument and implant are positioned within the canal, the implant is released and the distal and proximal ends of the implant are connected to apply sufficient axial tensioning force on the inner wall of the canal to increase fluid permeability. In another embodiment a delivery instrument attached to the implant is positioned in the canal securing one of the distal or proximal ends of the implant within the canal. The implant provides sufficient axial tensioning force on the inner wall of the canal to increase fluid permeability of the inner wall of the canal. The other of the distal or proximal ends may be secured to maintain the tensioning force on the inner wall of the canal.
109 Citations
57 Claims
-
1. A method for increasing the aqueous outflow of fluid through Schlemm'"'"'s canal in the eye comprising the steps of
a) positioning in Schlemm'"'"'s canal a delivery tool comprising an implant, said implant comprising an elongated element with distal and proximal ends positionable within said canal so as to provide a radially inward force to the inner wall of said canal to thereby increase fluid permeability of the inner wall of said canal; -
and a flexible delivery device attached to said implant; b) releasing said implant from said flexible delivery device; and c) connecting said distal and proximal ends of said implant to each other to apply sufficient tensioning force along the longitudinal axis of said implant to impart a radially inward force on the inner wall of said canal to increase fluid permeability of the inner wall of said canal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
-
-
34. A method for increasing the aqueous outflow of fluid through Schlemm'"'"'s canal in the eye comprising the steps of
a) positioning in Schlemm'"'"'s canal a delivery tool comprising an implant, said implant comprising an elongated element with distal and proximal ends positionable within said canal so as to provide a radially inward force to the inner wall of said canal; - to thereby increase fluid permeability of the inner wall of said canal;
and a flexible delivery device attached to said implant; b) releasing said implant from said flexible delivery device in said canal; c) securing one of said distal or proximal ends within said canal; d) adjusting the longitudinal tension of said implant to provide sufficient tensioning force along the longitudinal axis of said implant to impart a radially inward force on the inner wall of said canal to increase fluid permeability of the inner wall of said canal; e) securing the other of said distal or proximal ends within said canal to maintain said tensioning force on the inner wall of said canal. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
- to thereby increase fluid permeability of the inner wall of said canal;
Specification